Senkai Promotions have partnered up with Daco Fightwear to bring you their first instalment of MMA action for 2013, BattleZone Fighting Championships 7.
By Fergus Ryan
One of Ireland’s premier MMA promotions will be back at the Regency Hotel on March 2. Looking to make a strong start to 2013, the match-makers at BattleZoneFC have put together a stacked card with regional and international appeal for Irish fans of MMA.
Co-headlining the card will be two title fights for the professional featherweight and the amateur bantamweight belts. Both belts are being contested by fighters from SBGi in Dublin and The Boxing Clinic in Cork, two of Ireland’s stand-out MMA gyms. Brian ‘The Pikeman’ Moore (SBGi) and Yuri Malko (Boxing Clinic) will battle for the BattleZone FC pro featherweight title, while Keith Coady (SBGi) will tackle Darren O’Gorman (Boxing Clinic) for the BattleZone FC amateur bantamweight title.
After the success of the first international series at BattleZone FC 6, Team Ireland are back in action but this time they’ll face off against Team USA. Having romped home against England 3-0, Team USA will offer a much stiffer test. Representing the ‘Green, White and Gold’ on the night will be Adam Caffrey (Rush Fight Academy), Levi Keogh (SBGi), Daragh Harte (Rush Fight Academy), Ciaran Daly (Boxing Clinic) and Wayne Nash (Tuath De Dannan).
Capitalising on the success of the international series, BattleZone FC will launch their interprovincial series on March 2. The debut battle of the series will be Team Munster taking on Team Ulster. Munster will be represented by Paul Wallace (Boxing Clinic), Ciaran O’Brien (Boxing Clinic), Andrew Murray (Waterford MMA), James Brennan (Boxing Clinic) and Staz (Boxing Clinic). The Ulster team, meanwhile, will consist of Rowan Pendiville (Fight Academy of Ireland), Carl McInally (ZKJ), Gerard ‘RPG’ McKee (Evolve), Josh Boal (Next Generation NI) and Dennis Perry (Strabane Fight Team).
Fight card is subject to change and may run in a different order on the night.
- Featherweight Professional Title: Brian Moore (SBGi) V Yuri Malko (Boxing Clinic)
- Bantamweight Amateur Title: Keith Coady (SBGi) V Darren O’Gorman (Boxing Clinic)
- Middleweight: Daragh Murrray v Kaspers Jankovics
- Welterweight: David Earls (SBGi) v Keith McCabe (Balance BJJ)
Team Ulster V Team Munster
- Bantamweight: Josh Boal (Next Generation NI) V Paul Wallace (Boxing Clinic)
- Featherweight: Carl McNally (ZKJ) V Kieran O’Brien (Boxing Clinic)
- Lightweight: Rowan Prendiville (Fight Academy of Ireland) V Andrew Murray (Waterford MMA)
- Welterweight: Gerard McKee (Evolve) V James Brennan (Boxing Clinic)
- Middleweight Dennis Perry (Strabane Fight Team) V Staz (Boxing Clinic)
Team Ireland v Team USA
- Flyweight: Adam Caffery (Rush Fight Academy) V Trevor Ward (USA)
- Bantamweight: Wayne Nash (Tuath De Dannan) V Lex James (USA)
- Featherweight: Levi Keogh (SBGi) V Phil Harverson (USA)
- Lightweight: Daragh Harte (Rush Fight Academy) V Justin Langford (USA)
- Welterweight: Ciaran Daly (Boxing Clinic) V Patrick Riley (USA)
BattleZone FC 7 takes place on March 2 in the Regency Hotel, Swords Road, Dublin. Tickets start from €30. Doors open at 6pm with the first fight due to commence at 7pm. The event will be recorded for Setanta Sports and will be aired in the coming weeks.
Tickets can be purchased from the fighters and clubs involved, from ticketmaster.ie or through the BattleZone Facebook page. Check the website BattleZoneFC.com for updates and you can follow @BattlezoneFC on Twitter to join the conversation using #BZFC7 or #bznation hashtags.
Pictures courtesy of In Cage Photography.
You can follow Fergus on Twitter @gusryan100.
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